One of East Cobb’s longest-lasting Cajun-style restaurants has closed its doors.
AJ’s Famous Seafood and PoBoys (2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2148, in the Pavilions at East Lake) is listed as permanently closed on its Facebook page.
When we went by, we saw that tables and chairs had been removed and kitchen equipment was being cleared out of the 2,800 square feet of space next to Kroger.
Brixmor, the retail center’s leasing agent, has listed that space as being available. The restaurant’s website also has expired.
There wasn’t a sign on the doors announcing a closure, but like many restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, AJ’s struggled with labor shortages and announced a number of short-notice closures.
East Cobb News has left a message with AJ’s seeking comment.
The restaurant—which specialized in Louisiana-style dishes like muffaletta sandwiches and fried alligator tacos—also was trying to reobtain an alcohol license.
AJ’s got an “A” score of 91 during a health inspection just last week.
Andy Erbacher opened AJ’s at the Pavilions 18 years ago as a neighborhood-style establishment, featuring seafood from the Gulf coast.
Shortly before COVID, AJ’s expanded with an oyster bar that took up space formerly occupied by a hair salon. The oyster bar closed early in the pandemic.
In 2021, Erlacher was outspoken about the Major League All-Star game being moved from nearby Truist Park due a Georgia election law, appearing on a live Fox News segment.
“We made it through COVID,” he said. “We were looking forward to things starting to get back to somewhat normal” in anticipating good business for the three-day All-Star event.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also visited AJ’s in the wake of that decision, critical of the boycott and its impact on the local economy.
Further down at the Pavilions, a new seafood restaurant will be opening soon—Captain Charlie’s Seafood & More—located next to the J. Christopher’s.
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